E cigarette and e liquid firstly started from China and now spread over the world. E cigarette production now mainly still in China. But e liquid production is booming over the world. The competition is larger every moment. Expecially for Chinese e liquid manufacture. It is not only the reason of many of e liquid manufacture and DIY maker come out oversea, but also people don't like e liquid made in China, expecially e liquid without famous brand. What's your opinion about e liquid made in China? Would you buy them in your local shop?
In 1963, Herbert Gilbert patented "a smokeless non-tobacco cigarette". In his patent Gilbert described how his device worked, by "replacing burning tobacco and paper with heated, moist, flavored air." Gilbert's device involved no nicotine, smokers of Gilbert's device enjoyed flavored steam. Attempts to commercialize Gilbert's invention failed and his product fell into obscurity. However, it deserves a mention as the earliest patent for an electronic cigarette.
Better known is the the invention of Chinese pharmacist Hon Lik, who patented the first nicotine based electronic cigarette in 2003. The following year, Hon Lik was the first person to manufacture and sell such a product, first in the Chinese market and then internationally.
I guess the American that invented the e cig invented it at the wrong time in 1963 we had more freedom and Government could care less if we smoked so the demand just was not there.